Chapter 20: The Lake Spirit and the Demon King

Chapter 20:
The Lake Spirit and the Demon King

 

“HEY, COME ON. Are you still angry? I said I’m sorry.”

I sat peacefully fishing deep in the woods. Next to me, Vivi—the spirit of the lake—splashed her legs in the water in silence.

Finally, she puffed out her cheeks and glanced at me. “I am angry! You said we were friends, but then you disappeared for a whole month. I bet you forgot all about me. I get it—you just use the word ‘friend’ when it’s useful.”

“I can’t believe a fairy is so pissed off at me.”

“I’m not a fairy! I’m a spirit!”

Whoops. I messed up.

“See? You totally forgot about me!”

“Listen, the Rabbit Tavern wanted fresh fish, so I’m here to grab some. Help me out, Vivi. I brought you a proper rod and everything.”

I put the fishing rod in her hands and baited the hook, then applied Explosive Mr. Fisher to it.

“Oh, um, I’ll do my best…! Wait a sec! See? You changed the subject!”

“Vivi, you’re the only spirit I can count on. You get that, right?” I gave her a grave look.

Vivi gasped. “The only spirit…? O-okay, I’ll do it!”

Her face practically shone. Spirits sure are easy to fool. I felt kind of guilty, but hey, I’d succeeded in distracting her.

“This lake is a long way from the drugstore, okay? I don’t have many chances to come out here.”

“Yeah, I know. Sorry for being unrealistic.”

Vivi and I put all the fish we caught into the tank I’d made last time I visited. Eventually, we split the lunch Mina had packed.

“Mina’s cooking sure is tasty,” Vivi smiled.

“Right?” I explained that Rena, the Rabbit Tavern’s barmaid, had gotten a reservation from diners who wanted lots of seafood. “I really am becoming a jack of all trades, huh?”

Well, whatever. I had free time on my hands. Plus, fishing gave me a chance to hang out with Vivi. I chuckled slightly. It’s all good.

Vivi turned to me. “What’s wrong with that?” she demanded seriously. “You are a jack of all trades. You’re even my friend.”

“To be clear, I’m not friends with you as part of my work,” I insisted. “I’m your actual friend.”

Vivi smiled, but then kicked the water. “You’re trying to cheer me up, but you’ll just leave me alone later and laugh behind my back at how gullible I am.”

“The ‘me’ in your brain sucks, huh?” She really distrusts humans. “If you’re that lonely, want to come work at the drugstore? You could be a part-timer. I’m not arranging transportation, though.”

I rarely made it to the lake, so maybe Vivi could visit the store.

Vivi frowned again. “Part-timer? No way.”

Eh, I get it. She’s a lake spirit who used to be worshiped by humans. I doubt her pride would let her work for one.

“Ha ha! My bad. I should’ve known.”

“If I’m going to work at the drugstore, I want to be a full-time employee.”

“That’s the issue?”

“Think about it. If you didn’t need a part-timer anymore, you could get rid of me. I wouldn’t want that.”

It all came back to Vivi’s fear of being abandoned. There was a flaw in her logic, though—even full-timers weren’t safe from getting fired. Given Vivi’s anxiety, I decided not to raise that point.

Wait a second. She’s a spirit, right? How does she know about working part-time or full-time?

“About the drugstore’s temperature, Luigi—” Vivi continued.

“I’m not green!”

“Huh?”

“Wait. Wasn’t that a joke?”

“What do you mean, Luigi?”

“I’m not ‘Luigi’!” Don’t tell me this little…!

Standing up, I slammed Vivi with the one question now on my mind. “Hey, what’s my name?”

As I glared, Vivi began to panic. “L-Luigi…!”

“My name’s Reiji! And I’m not a little-brother type! You talk a big game, but you forgot my name!” Tossing my fishing rod aside, I noogied Vivi with both fists.

“Aaaaah! I’m sorry!” Vivi rubbed her head, teary-eyed.

And here I was, sympathizing with her! I sighed. “So, what were you trying to say earlier?”

“Um…well, since I’m the spirit of the lake, it’s bad news if I don’t keep my body temperature low. I can’t maintain my physical form if I’m too warm. Is there a lake near your place? Even a pond?”

That’s why she’s keeping her legs submerged, I realized. The house has a bathtub, but there’s no way Vivi could work in it.

Employing Vivi at the drugstore was apparently impossible. I shook my head.

“I figured you wouldn’t have one,” Vivi sighed. “Even if you did, I could never work from a pond. Still, I’m happy you offered me a job.”

After hearing her say that so sadly, how could I not want to help her?

“Oh, wait!” I cried. “We might be able to figure something out if—”

“You’re trying to get my hopes up again, aren’t you? I see how you operate.”

Whap! I delivered a swift chop to this grouch’s head.

“Ow! What’s the big idea?!”

“I’ll bring some stuff here tomorrow,” I told her. “If it works the way I hope, you’re coming to Kirio Drugs. Mina, Noela, and our part-timer will be there. I’m sure you’ll fit in just fine.”

Vivi still seemed reluctant to trust me. Although that wasn’t her fault, I couldn’t do much but assume she’d come around.

I took the numerous fish I’d caught to the Rabbit Tavern, and the next day, I went back to the lake with something from the drugstore.

As soon as Vivi saw me, she leapt out of the water. Since she was a spirit, she dried off immediately like it was nothing.

“I came just like I said I would. See?” I said, pulling some icy gel out of my bag and giving it to Vivi. Applying this should cool her down.

“Well? Do you feel nice and chilly?” I asked.

Vivi spun around with a bright smile like a fresh blossom. “I’m still cool! I-I can handle this! This is amazing, Reiji!”

Thank goodness. Since Vivi could work at Kirio Drugs now, I headed back to Kalta with her in tow.

“I’m going to work full-time at Reiji’s drugstore,” she whispered to herself.

“Vivi, what’re you saying? Everyone starts as a part-timer.”

“Huh?” Her look of despair was hilarious.

“Let’s just call it a trial period,” I teased her. “I don’t need useless employees, so…uh, good luck.”

“I thought we were friends!”

“Well, now I’m your boss, and you’re my part-timer.”

“You tricked me!”

“No, I didn’t.” We arrived at the drugstore.

Ejil was in the middle of cleaning the counter. He immediately bowed his head. “Welcome back, Doctor!”

“Yo. Uh, I want you to look after a new part-timer.”

“You got it, Doctor!”

I glanced around. Vivi had been right next to me a second ago, but now she was gone.

I found her staring at Ejil from a nearby alley. Her face was pale, and she trembled. “Wh-why is he here…?”

“He?” I turned toward Ejil, calling, “What’s your deal again?”

“Oh, I’m the demon king, Doctor!”

Right.

Ejil cackled loudly. Hiding his face with one hand, he struck his usual edgy pose and pointed at Vivi. “Heh heh heh…I’m your senior here!”

Why’d he introduce himself as her “senior,” not “the demon king”?

“O-okay!” Vivi stammered. “Why did I come to this crazy place…?”

“Listen well, inexperienced one,” Ejil ordered. “I shall teach you the ropes, and you shall memorize everything. Do you understand what will happen when you do?!”

“U-um…you’ll have less work?”

“Wrong! Noela will see how incredible I am for looking after the new employee!”

“Noela? I’m not so sure.”

“You call her by name, rookie?! How dare you take that attitude with—”

“Noela and I are friends.” Vivi lifted her chin proudly.

Ejil froze. “F-friends?! You and Noela?!”

I get what Ejil’s thinking. “If I impress Vivi, she’ll tell Noela. And conversation will be easier with a friend in common!” Like the old proverb: he that would the daughter win, must with the mother first begin.

Ejil suddenly knelt. “Vivi, my friend, if you wish to know anything, feel free to ask me. I’ll do my best to support you!”

Really, Demon King? Still, it was inspiring that Ejil was pulling out all the stops.

“Ah…um…okay.”

Noela had heard Vivi; she came running into the store. “Vivi!”

“Long time no see, Noela!”

“Noela super bored. Vivi play!”

“Er…but I have work.”

“Ejil here! Ejil do all work!”

“A-are you sure…?”

Vivi looked at Ejil worriedly, but his face wore a remarkably indulgent smile. He gave the girls a thumbs-up. They headed off somewhere, leaving me with Ejil, who now looked crushed. I could tell he was crying deep down inside.

“Ejil.”

“Doctor, this…this sucks.”

He’s the demon king, but I feel terrible for him. I spent my day trying to cheer Ejil up.

That was how Vivi the lake spirit started working part-time at Kirio Drugs.